This fight was in 26th October 1970. Ali's previous fight was in March of 1967 obviously after of which he was exiled from boxing due to political reasons. Ali was really on point here. He drew in Quarry with a sharp jab, and dropped right hands and left hooks onto a lunging, helpless Quarry. Tremendous performance. A few fights before Quarry upset a good fighter in Mac Foster and just a year previously gave Joe Frazier hell in a great fight. I didn't see the cut on my copy, but it doesent really matter. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHVxa4pmuRc[/ame] He only got a few rounds in for this fight and obviously wanted more and got 15 against Oscar Bonavena. Gonna check that one out some time, Bonavena was a tough guy. Thats mandatory for Argentine fighters I love how long the post fight interviews where back then
Quarry just didn't have the right style to give Ali much trouble. A smallish counter poucher giving away height and reach wasn't the type of fighter to beat Ali. Frazier was the type of smaller fighter that would give Ali fits due to his swarming come forward while constantly throwing punches style of fighting. Quarry didn't fight like that and that enabled Ali to fight comfortably from a distance and land.
The the benefit of hindsight Quarry getting cut in this one was a really good break for Ali. Had this one gone to the mid-late rounds Ali wouldve been gassed and Quarry certainly couldve made it a nightmare evening. Jerry was a good bodypuncher and he was starting to get into the fight right before he got cut. Jerry`s soft skin certainly cost him a chance here. The reason being that this was Ali`s first fight back. If he was rusty against Bonevena he was going to be even worse here. He wouldve had to come down off his toes and rest his legs.
I think the ease of this win against Quarry did a lot to Ali´s preparation for bothBonavena and Frazier. Had Quarry gone the distance in a competetive fight - Ali would´ve trained harder and the Bonavena would´ve been havdled better. Ali performance against Bonavena indicated that he would have his hands full with Frazier. But again the outcome - a KO in round 15 - somehow gave Ali the impression that he had a better punch and that he could stop Frazier (who had nearly got KOéd by Bonavena). Ali got himself into his best shape againt Foremann and against Norton in their second fight - both fighters he was scared of losing to. Ali got lazy - money came easy - and with all his talent he still managed to dominate and rule the world.
October 26, 1970 It was a bout that Jerry Quarry had to take. Now ranked as the #2 Heavyweight, by virtue of his Knock-out over #1 Mac Foster, the 25 1/2 year-old Californian was very confident when entering the ring in Georgia. At 6' 0" and 197 lbs. Jerry was in 'prime condition', a far cry from the way he had entered in some of his previous bouts. The problem, Muhammad Ali at 6' 3", with a 7" reach advantage, and with his 'slashing punching style', Jerry's tender skin would be in 'harm's way'. Problem, Jerry didn't listen to his corner's instructions (as usual). Instead of just boxing and staying low, until Muhammad Ali came down off his toes, Jerry starts winging and exchanging from 'long-range' in Round 2. From the tape, it is obvious that Muhammad Ali was starting to breath hard in Round 2, and if Jerry was smart, he would have just pressured the comebacking Champion, and not leave himself open. By Round 7 or 8, Muhammad Ali may have been spent, allowing Jerry to rally over the second-half of the bout. Let's not forget, this bout was scheduled for 15-Rounds.
If Quarry had n't have got cut,Muhammad would have had a tough night. I still see him winning,but he'd have been taken the distance. Give 'The Greatest' kudos though. He picked a really tough comeback opponent in Quarry. No Peter McNeeley types here ! In their second fight,Muhammad displayed how much sharper he was by easily beating Jerry in seven.
I agree Stevie, but in fairness, he was facing a distracted, maybe even dispirited, physically inferior version of Quarry as compared to the way he was in their 1st match and certainly in the late 70's. By that I mean Jerry's physique had thickened and slowed him down somewhat...he was less effective as a counterpuncher speedwise. This even taking in consideration his two big upcoming victories over Lyle and Shavers. I always thought that the late 60's version of Quarry vs Spencer and Mathis he was physically at his best before his body fully matured. I also don't think Jerry was in the best shape for Ali (physically and mentally) and that had something to do with the misfortune of his in having his brother fighting on the same card against a killer like Bob Foster.
Let me make it clear that the best Quarry would have lost to Ali, but he would have accounted for himself better and would have most likely had been beaten via another severe cut type of tko instead of just being outclassed and pummeled as he was in that '72 rematch.
What shocked me was Quarry's form in the Joe Frazier rematch. I think we were all expecting something similar to their first fight in that one. Jerry never got into it at all.
I think Jerry got into the pattern of,,,, If he hit you with his best shot, and you were still in front of him,,, he kind of got disinterested. Too many of those easy 'one-punch' Knock-out wins in the amateurs ruined him as a potentially 'complete fighter'.
i think what ruined him were : 1) his insistence on being a fat small heavy rather than a massive strong lightheavy 2) alcohol 3) 2 many of those received punches in d amateurs
In retrospect, I can see that Jerry had no chance against Joe coming into the rematch. Three reasons: >After Ali in 72' he trained hard and was fairly chiseled against Lyle. >He looked like (sorta) a bloated pear against Shavers. I still consider that fight a sort of an anomoly. Ernie was still a little green, despite 38 bouts. >Two months later he got clocked by journeyman Joe Alexander yet managed the win. I'm not sure of the timeframe but weren't his drug problems rearing their ugly head at that time as well?
